||Black and White Digital News||

||Parvinder Singh December 11, 2024 ||

Jammu : Jammu and Kashmir is grappling with an alarming drug crisis as a staggering 4.5 lakh individuals, aged 18 to 75, have fallen prey to opioid addiction, constituting 5.05% of this demographic in the Union Territory (UT).

This revelation, brought to light in the Lok Sabha, paints a distressing picture of substance abuse threatening the social fabric of the region.

The shocking data emerged in a written reply by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, B.L. Verma, to a query from National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi. The minister cited findings from the National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India, conducted by the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), AIIMS, in 2018. The report further detailed that 3.54 lakh individuals are addicted to alcohol, representing 4% of the target age group.

Other substances are equally concerning:

Sedatives: 1.51 lakh users

Cannabis: 1.36 lakh users

Inhalants: 89,000 users

Comprehensive Action Plan: NAPDDR

In response to the escalating crisis, the Union Government has initiated the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR), a multi-faceted program aimed at combating drug abuse through prevention, education, treatment, and rehabilitation.

Key interventions under NAPDDR include:

1. Preventive Education and Awareness Campaigns: Financial support to UTs for public education initiatives.

2. Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (IRCA): Support for NGOs managing centers dedicated to rehabilitation.

3. Community-Based Interventions: Programs like Community-based Peer Led Intervention (CPLI) for adolescents and Outreach and Drop-In Centres (ODIC) for at-risk individuals.

4. District De-Addiction Centres (DDACs): Establishing local hubs for treatment and support.

5. Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs): Financial aid for treatment centers in government hospitals.

Efforts in Jammu and Kashmir:

Under the umbrella of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), the government has launched targeted interventions across all districts in Jammu and Kashmir. Notable achievements include:

Reaching out to over 98 lakh individuals, including 8 lakh youth and 9 lakh women, with awareness programs.

Supporting 1 IRCA, 3 ODICs, 2 CPLIs, 5 DDACs, and 20 ATFs in the UT.

Providing treatment to over 31,000 individuals for substance abuse in the financial year 2023-24 alone.

Operating a 24/7 Toll-Free Helpline (14446), which has handled over 11,000 calls from the UT, offering counseling and immediate referrals.

The Human Cost of Addiction:

Despite these efforts, the crisis remains daunting. Substance abuse doesn’t merely affect individuals; it shatters families, disrupts communities, and burdens the healthcare system. The most vulnerable victims are the youth, caught in a vicious cycle of addiction and despair.

A Call to Action:

While the government’s measures are commendable, experts emphasize the need for grassroots participation. Schools, colleges, religious institutions, and local communities must play an active role in raising awareness and offering support to the afflicted.

As Jammu and Kashmir fights this hidden epidemic, the onus lies on every stakeholder to ensure that the future of the region is not compromised by the specter of addiction. The battle is far from over, but with concerted efforts, a drug-free Jammu and Kashmir is not beyond reach.

This report underlines the grim reality of substance abuse in J&K, urging immediate collective action to safeguard the Union Territory’s future.